Hysteroscopy – why it’s essential before IVF
A hysteroscopy before IVF treatment is a must. It won’t always be recommended, but have one anyway. A hysteroscopy is the best way to check your uterus is healthy and ready to carry a baby. It can spot things an ultrasound scan can’t.
Laparoscopy: good or bad for IVF patients?
A laparoscopy can treat women with specific infertility problems. It could be a key procedure for prospective IVF patients – and others trying to identify a gynaecological cause for their infertility. But IVF patients have had many tests already. Will an invasive laparoscopy really find anything new?
Pregnancy outcomes in the UK: room for improvement?
Having your baby in the UK? The risks of stillbirth and other fatal pregnancy complications are very low. But not as low as some other countries in the EU, according to a new European health report on the pregnancy care for women and babies.
IVF and alcohol: why you shouldn’t mix the two
Can you drink alcohol during IVF treatment? Patients wonder if a furtive glass of wine will really matter. In the run up to fertility treatment, it’s tempting to have a tipple. Stress is common before and after IVF. Alcohol might calm those nerves.
Stress: does it affect IVF outcomes?
Stress and IVF. We’re always told the two don’t mix. Clinics say take it easy, before and after your treatment. Friends keep a respectful distance. But the truth is, stress and anxiety don’t seem to affect IVF outcomes that much. But read on.
Does PGT-M (Previously PGD) Improve IVF Success Rates?
PGD, now known as PGT-M (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Disorders), is an important option for couples with a known inherited genetic condition. It allows embryos created through IVF treatment to be tested before transfer, helping reduce the risk of passing specific genetic disorders to a child. While PGT-M has transformed treatment for many families, […]
Stillbirth – the risks for pregnant women
Stillbirth is perhaps the most profoundly upsetting of all all fetal deaths. Research has found that IVF pregnancies don’t lead to significantly more stillbirths than natural pregnancies (but a 2019 study did question this). Can you do anything to reduce the chance of a stillbirth?
Vitamin D: good or bad for pregnant women?
Recent studies on vitamin-D levels in pregnancy appear to contradict each other. One, from the University of Bristol, said maternal vitamin-D levels don’t affect the child’s bone health. A second, from the University of Calgary, said low levels cause pregnancy complications. A third study, from 2018, looked at vitamin D and IVF treatment. It […]
Pregnant and 40? Accentuate the positive.
A recent study from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has suggested early induction of older pregnant women (aged 40 or above) may reduce the risk of stillbirth. The paper’s authors recommend that pregnant women in their 40s are given the option to induce earlier. This pragmatic advice should be welcomed.
How much exercise is good for IVF patients?
Friends say ‘take it easy’. Doctors say ‘don’t overdo it’. But who’s right when it comes to exercise before and during pregnancy? And should you tread more carefully when you’re having IVF?